Dolly for washing machines



Jan. 31, 1950 J. H. BROOK I DOLLY FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed March 4,1947 m .1 r W 7, h V a B my w J m w g H M J WM E m I Patented Jan. 31,1950 STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates'to improvements in dollies for power drivenwashing machines and has for its general object to provide a moreefficient and serviceable agitator of this type for use in washingmachines of a known construction.

The invention essentially concerns an agitator which is oscillated abouta vertical axis centrally of the tub by a suitable power drivenmechanism. In particular the invention has as an object to provide anagitator with radial blades having on each side an arrangement ofvertical and horizontal webs or ribs which form a group of pockets.Preferably diametrically opposite blades are employed and they arereversely curved in radial direction. The webs or ribs function in amanner to keep the articles to be cleaned away from the radial wall of ablade so that as the blade impinges the articles the liquid is forcedinto them with an effective washing action. The pockets act like suctioncups on the articles forcing the soapy water through them in order thatthey may be properly cleaned by the action of the soap.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsas described in the ensuing specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawing which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional plan View of an agitatorconstructed in accordance with the present invention and taken on linei| of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the agitator taken substantially on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The agitator of the present invention is of the kind employed instandard types of power driven washingmachines in which the tub has acentral spindle which extends upwardly from its base to carry theagitator. The spindle is oscillated about its axis by suitable mechanismdriven by an electric motor and controlled by a handoperated clutch. Thetub, spindle and driving mechanism are not shown in the drawing sincethey do not form a part of the present invention.

In carrying out the instant invention the agitator is provided with theusual hub 5 to enable it to be sleeved on the tub-spindle. The bore 6 ofthe hub is a loose fit on the spindle and in ordinary practice has areduced upper end 1 of a square cross section to form a drivingconnection with the distal end of the spindle, which is of a like crosssection. This construction enables the agitator to be demounted at will.

The hub is united with a base member 8 of disk-like configuration whichencircles the hub clear of the floor of the tub. The blades, denoted asa whole by the numeral 9, extend radially of the hub and upstand fromthe base member 8 as a unit therewith. Preferably there are two suchblades, diametrically arranged and each provided with an imperforatedwall In. Desirably the walls I!) are curved in radial direction and thecurvatures are reversely disposed with respect to a diametrical planethrough the blades.

At each side of a blade there is provided a series of vertical andhorizontal intersecting webs or ribs' H which form pockets 12 in groupformation. Accordingly there is provided on opposite sides of the bladesa multiplicity of comparatively small pockets each of a generalrectangular shape. The pockets are shallow and the ribs are thin flatelements of uniform depth. The horizontal ribs throughout their lengthfollow the curvature of the walls H).

When the agitator is mounted on the tubspindle and motivated the bladesare turned to and fro in well known manner in a washing operation. Inthis operation the pockets of the blades set up an effective turbulenceof the cleansing fluid, and the clothes are impinged by the ribs andthereby spaced from the walls In, which allows the fluid to penetratethe clothes thoroughly so that dirt is washed out by the action of thesoap in an effective manner.

The invention provides an agitator of the dolly type which is highlysatisfactory in use and one which can be manufactured at low cost.

What I claim is:

An agitator for a washing machine comprising a hub for fitting on avertical spindle driven with an oscillatory motion, a disc-like basemember encircling the hub and rigid therewith, and a pair ofdiametrically opposite blades carried by said hub and joined to saidbase member to upstand therefrom, each blade consistingof animperforated radial wall, and intersecting ribs on each side of theradial wall, said ribs being uniformly spaced in vertical and horizontalseries in an intersecting manner to project from the sides of the radialwall for a uniform distance throughout the areas of said sides to formshallow suction pockets.

JOHN HOLROYD BRQOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,528 Conterman Aug. 15,1944 361,612 Chamberlin Apr. 19, 1887 461,301 Williams Oct. 13, 18911,725,351 Hersh Aug. 20, 1929 2,072,047 Kirby Feb. 23, 1937 2,149,987Altorfer Mar. 7, 1939 2,235,452 Kirby Mar. 18, 1941 2,277,087 ErhartMar. 24, 1942

